Causes of hormonal imbalance in women

Menopause isn't the only cause of imbalanced body chemistry - lifestyle, medication and pregnancy can also throw off your body's hormone levels at any age. So before you give in to living with the discomforts of hormonal imbalance, discover the causes of hormonal imbalance and how you can reduce your symptoms.

Causes of hormonal imbalance

"Hormone problems are quite common," advises Dr. Brad Douglas,. While age is the cause of some of these challenges (think: menopause), your menstrual cycle, thyroid issues and diabetes can also be the issue. Even more commonly, medication such as birth control pills can also throw off your body's chemistry. In addition, pregnancy frequently causes a shift in your hormones balance.

Although some women are genetically predisposed to hormonal imbalance, when it comes to body chemistry changes that you can manage, your lifestyle can also be the culprit. Inconsistent sleep patterns, lack of exercise and a poor diet (which can include too much calorie intake) can all throw your hormones out of whack. Stress can be responsible for disturbing the levels of your hormones as well.

Hormonal imbalance symptoms in women

So how do you know when your hormones have gone awry? "Hormonal imbalances in women usually present themselves as irregular or heavy bleeding vaginally," explains Douglas. Extreme changes in mood during certain times of every month is another sign of uneven levels of hormones, which can include pre-menstrual syndrome, or even pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder, according to Douglas.

Furthermore, anxiety, loss of appetite, insomnia and lack of concentration may also be symptoms in women who may have a hormonal imbalance -- along with symptoms such as sudden weight gain, a reduced sex drive, hot flashes and night sweats. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have any of these signs.

Treatments for hormonal imbalance

Depending on the severity of hormonal imbalance symptoms, women who can tolerate the discomforts can live their day-to-day life without medication or treatment. However, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes to remedy or reduce the signs of hormonal imbalance, or even prescribe medication to bring your hormones back into equilibrium. Here are some options your doctor may want you to consider:

Medication - Synthetic hormones are commonly prescribed to treat hormonal imbalance. "Depending on [their lifestyle], I usually prescribe birth control such as pills, the Nuvaring or the Orthoevra patch," says Douglas. "But I might also recommend an [antidepressant]." Some antidepressants, such as Celexa, Pristiq or Effexor can help minimize signs of hormonal imbalance, while other medication, such as Prempro, are commonly prescribed for menopausal symptoms in women. Most commonly, synthetic progesterone and estrogen are prescribed to balance out hormones.

In cases where the causes of hormonal imbalance symptoms in women are hard to pinpoint, genetic testing through urine, saliva or blood may be warranted. Once your doctor has reviewed your diagnosis, a treatment plan that may combine medication, synthetic hormones and lifestyle changes may be tailored to fit your needs. Most important, causes of hormonal imbalance in women can be best diagnosed if you talk to your doctor as soon as you think you see signs of hormonal imbalance, getting you on the road to a more balanced body chemistry sooner.